Signal



G. W. CAMERON S I GNAL Filed Aug. v. 1922 5 sheets-sheet 1 IIIIII abtofcnmv G. W. CAMERON SIGNAL Filed Aug; v. 1922 s sheets-sheet 2- me. 9; 1924. 1 A 1,518,176

G. w. CAMERON SIGNAL Filed Aug. '7. 1922 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Chrom Patented Dec. 9, 1924.

GEORGE ,W. CAMERON,

OF HONDO, TEXAS; SAID GEORGE W. CALVLERON, DECEASED.

MOLLE E. CAMERON EXECUTRIX OF THE SIGNAL.

Application filed August 7, 1922.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE W. CAMERON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Hondo, in the county of Medina and State of Texas, have invented certain new and useful improvements in Signals, of which the following is a specilication.

rlhis invention relates to signals, and more particularly to crossing signals for railroads.

An object of the invention is the provision ot automatic means for furnishing audible or visible signals when a trainapproaches a crossing.

A further object is the provision of means for returning the signal to normal position after the train has passed.

A further object is the provision of a circuit breaker that is normally closed to complete a circuit through the rails when a train approaches a crossing and is broken by a second circuit through the rail at the crossing to reset the signal.`

A further object is the provision of means for controlling the return of the circuit breaker to normal position to permit the train to pass over the crossing before the signal is reset.

1n the accompanying drawings, I have shown one embodiment of the invention. In this showing:

Figure 1 is a iront elevation of the signal, partly in section,

Figure 2 is a side elevation,

Figure 3 is a horizontal sectional view on line 3-3 of Figure 1,

Figure 4c is a detail sectional view of the dash pot,

Figure 5 is an enlarged view of the circuit breaker,

Figure 6 is a detail sectional view on line 6-6 of Figure 5,

Figure 7 is a vertical sectional View of the upper end of the signal,

Figure 8 is a plan view of a portion of a railroad, showing the arrangement and location of the signal,

Figure 9 is a diagrammatic view of the electric circuits, l

Figure 10 is a detail sectional view on line 10-10of lFigure 1, and,

Figure 11 is a similar view on line 11m-11 of Figure 1.

Referring to the drawings, the reference numerals 1 and 2 designate the tracks of a Serial No. 580,280.

railroad. rThis road` is provided with a crossing formed by a road or driveway intersecting the railroad as at 3. At the crossing, the rail 2 is provided with a section 4, separated from the rest of the rail by insulating sections 5. The sections of the rail on each side ot' the insulated section are connected to each other by a conductor 6. rFhe signal is arranged adjacent the crossing, as shown in Figure 8 of the drawings, and consists of a casing 7. @ne side of the casing may be provided with a hinged door S to permit access to 'the interior. A tubular section 9 extends upwardly from the casing and this tubular section is provided with a shield or cover formed by an inclined plate 10. The shield protects the mechanism within the tube and casing :trom the elements. The shield may be secured to the casing in any suitable manner as by brackets 11.

A battery 12 is arranged within the cas` ing. rlhe battery is connected to the rail 1 by a conductor 13 passing through a pipe 14, extending from the bottom of the casing.

lAs shown in Figure 8 of the drawings, a

conductor wire 15 may be mounted on poles 16 at the side ot the track and connected to various portions of the track or the rail 1 by means of connections 17. This conductor, however, may be dispensed with and the bonded rails depended upon for the transmission oit current to the point where the wire 13 is connected to the rail. From the battery, a lead wire 18 extends to a contact 19 on circuit breaker 20. The detail construction of the circuit breaker is shown in Figures 5 and 6 of the drawings, and it consists of a base formed oi a suitable conductor of electricity to which the contact 19 is electrically connected. An arm 21 is rotatably mounted on the base and insulated therefrom by suitable insulation 22. As shown, the arm is supported by a pin 23 and a lead wire 24 extends from this pin. This arm carries a contact 25 which is adapted to engage a stationary contact 26, mounted on a bracket 27 and electrically connected to the base.

The lead wire 211 extends upwardly through the tubular portion 9 of the casing and is connected to one binding post 2S of a bell or buzzer 29. As shown, the bell is mounted in the shield 10.

A triangular shield 30 extends outwardly lua .dash pot 65.

from the tubular portion of the casing and projects over the roadway. This triangular shield is supported by an arm 31, secured to the tubular portion of the casing. A substantially rectangular signal member 32 is mounted in a bearing 33 in the wall ot the casing and is arranged beneath the triangular shield. The outer end oit the signal member is supported by an arm or bracket 34, depending from the shield. As shown, this end of the signal member is provided With asbearing 35 and a tube 36 projects through the bearing. An electric bulb 37 is arranged within the signal member adjacent its outer end, and is connected to the `binding post 28 by a conductor 38. The side Walls of the signal member are formed of any suitable material and are provided withopenings arranged in aline ment with the electric bulb. These openings are closed by transparent plates 39. Between the bulb and the inner end of the signal member, the side Walls are provided with cut out portions 40 forming a suitable signal such as the word Stop A glass plate 41 is arranged behind this portion of the signalmember.

The other terminal of the lamp socket is provided with a lead wire 42 extending to the other binding post 43 of the bell. This binding` post is in turn provided with a lead wire `44 extending to one binding post 45 by anelectric magnet 46. The magnet is provided with a second binding post 47, connectedto the rail 2 by a lead wire 48.

The inner end of the signal member is mounted on a shaft 49 having a crank 50 and this crank is connected to a rod 51 extendingdownvvardly into the casing. The electromagnet is provided with an armature v52vpivota'lly mounted in an arm or bracket 53, andthe armature is connected to the rod 51 bya pin 54. A Weight 55 is arranged on the crank opposite the connection to the rod `51.

Theinsulated section 4 of the rail is provided with a lead Wire 56 connected to one binding post 57 of an electromagnet 58. The magnet is provided vvith a second binding post 59 connected to the contact member 21 of the circuit breaker by a lead wire 60. This magnet is provided with an armature 61, pivotally mounted in a bracket 62 and the end of the armature is provided with a. link 63, connected to one end ot the movable Contact arm` 21.

A cylinder 64 is arranged within the casing and this cylinder is provided with a The base of the dash pot is spaced from; the bottom of the cylinder by posts 66 and the bottom of the dash pot is provided With an opening 67, closed by inwardly opening flap valve 68. A valve casing 69 is arranged on the side of the dash pcand communicates With the interior Ysoon as the circuit is broken.

through a restricted port 70. The outer end of this port is provided With an offset portion 71 communicating with the cylinder, and this odset portion is provided with a valve seat 72, adapted to be engaged by a threaded valve 73. The piston 74 is arranged in the dash pot and is provided with a piston rod 75 pivoted thereto as at 76. The outer end of the piston rod is connected to the armature 61 by a pin 77.

In operation, the contacts 25 and 26 are normally closed, and the signal member in the position shown in Figure 2 of the drawings, being retained in such position by weight 55. When a train approaches the crossing, a circuit is completed from the battery 12 through lead Wire 18 and contact 19 of the circuit breaker, through the base 2O of the circuit breaker, contacts 25 and 26, arm 21, lead wire 24 to the buzzer 29, giving an audible signal. The lamp 37 may either be connected to the buzzer in parallel as shown, or in series. From the buzzer, the current passes through lead wire 44 to the electromagnet 46, thence through lead Wire 48 to rail 2, through the wheels and axle of the train to wire 13 and thence to the battery. This energizes the magnet 46, attracting the armature and exerting a downward pull on the rod 51. -7

The signal member is then revolved by means of the crank 50 to the position shown in dotted lines in Figure 7 of the drawings, giving .a stop signal to approaching vehicles. It will be noted that the weight is then raised and is in position to return the signal member to neutral position lVhen the first car of the train reaches the section 4 of the rail, or arrives at the crossing, the necessity of a. signal no longer exists. A circuit is then formed through the circuit breaker in the manner heretofore described, and thence through wire to binding post 59 of electromagnet 58. F rom the magnet, the circuit is completed to the train, through wire 56 and rail section 4. The energizetion of magnet 58 moves the armature 61 and swings the movable Contact arm 21 on its pivot, breaking the circuit. This also lifts the piston 74 through the piston rod 75 and the weight of the piston returns the contact arm 21 to normal position with the contacts-25 and 26 in engagement with each other. However. if the. Contact arm were allowed to immediately return to normal position and any portion of the train was still in the signal block, the signal apparatus would immediately function, which would be unnecessary. The dash pot is provided for the purpose of retarding the re turn of the signal to normal position. The cylinder 64 is filled-with a `suitablelimlid, such as a light or thin oil and when the piston 74 moves upwardly in the dash pot,

lll() the valve 68 opens to permit free flow of the liquid. As soon as the pull on armature 6l ceases, due to the breaking of the circuit, the piston has to move downwardly, but the valve 68 is then closed and the liquid flows slowly through the ports and 7l, retarding the downward movement of the piston. The rate of flow of the liquid may be controlled by valve 73. It will be apparent that the flow of the liquid may be controlled to regulate the downward movement of the piston to any desired time and thus prevent the contacts 25 and 26 from closing until desired. By properly timing the closing of the contacts, the train may be permitted to pass out of the signal block before the apparatus is again ready to function and unnecessary operation of the signal mechanism is thus prevented.

lt is to be understood that the form of my invention herewith shown and described is to be taken as a preferred example of the same, and that various changes in the shape, size, and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the subjoined claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

l. A crossing signal for railroads comprising a normally inoperative signal member, electrically operated control means for rendering said signal member operative 0n the approach of a train, means for returning said signal to inoperative condition, a normally closed circuit breaker in the circuit of said control means, means for opening said circuit breaker upon the passage of a train, and means for retarding the return of said circuit breaker to closed position.

2. A crossing signal for railroads comprising a normally inoperative signal member adapted to be actuated to assume an operative position, electrically operated means for actuating said signal upon the approach of a train, means for breaking the circuit of said electrically operated means to return the signal to inoperative position, and means for retarding the return of said circuit breaking means to closed position.

A crossing signal for railroads comprising a signal, a normally closed electric circuit adapted to be energized on the approach of a train, an electromagnet arranged in said circuit and adapted to operate said signal when energized, a second magnet adapted to be energized by the passage of the train, movable means controlled by said second magnet for breaking said circuit, means for retarding return movement. of said circuit breaking means to closed position, and means for returning the signal to its original position when the circuit is broken.

4. An electrically operated railroad signal comprising a signal member, an electric circuit adapted to be closed by the approach of a` train, an electromagnet arranged in said circuit to operate said signal when the circuit is closed, a normally closed circuit breaker arranged in said circuit, a second magnet adapted to be energized by the passage of a train to open said circuit breaker, means for retarding the closing of said circuit breaker, and means for returning said signal to its original position.

5. An electrically operated railway signal comprising a signa-l member, an electric circuit adapted to be closed by the approach of a train, an electro-magnet arranged in said circuit to operate said signal, a circuit breaker arranged in said circuit, said circuit breaker comprising a liXed arm and a movable arm, a second magnet adapted to be energized by the passage of the train to move said movable arm and break said main circuit, said signal and said movable arm being adapted to return to their original positions, and means for retarding the return of said movable arm.

6. An electrically operated railway signal comprising a signal member, an electric circuit adapted to be closed by the approach lof a train, an electro-magnet arranged in said circuit to operate said signal, a circuit breaker arranged in said circuit, said circuit breaker comprsing a fixed arm and a movable arm, a second magnet adapted to be energized by the passage of the train to move said movable arm and break said main circuit, said signal and said movable arm being adapted to return to their original positions, and a dash pot to retard the return of said movable arm.

In testimony whereof, I aiiiX my signature in presence of two witnesses.

GEORGE W. CAMERON.

Witnesses GEO. MUEMIMK, J. W. Crow. 

